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Pakistan has eliminated all militant sanctuaries from its territory and expects the same to be reciprocated by its neighbours, Chief of Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa told the Chiefs of Defence Conference held in Kabul on Tuesday, an Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement said.

The conference was attended by the top US commander in Afghanistan Gen John Nicholson, Commander US Central Command (Centcom) Gen Joseph Votel and the army chiefs of Afghanistan and central Asian republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Addressing the conference focusing on how to deal with escalating terrorism in the region, Gen Bajwa said the path to regional peace and stability "passes through Afghanistan", the ISPR statement said.

He reiterated that Pakistan has eliminated all terrorist sanctuaries from its soil, however, "residual signatures of terrorists" who take advantage of the presence of Afghan refugees and lack of effective border security coordination, "are also being traced and targeted through ongoing operation Raddul Fasaad".

The COAS assured the defence officials in attendance that Pakistan does not allow its territory to be used against any other country and "expects the same in reciprocity".

"Collaborative approach and persistence is the answer to all challenges, for which Pakistan is ready to play its part," Gen Bajwa was quoted as saying.

The two-day conference concluded with the agreement to continue cooperation for regional peace and stability.

Capt Tom Gresback, spokesman for Nato-led forces, said in a statement the event “afforded leaders the opportunity to meet in person and identify opportunities to protect and promote common interests, specifically pertaining to securing a lasting peace for Afghanistan and stability for the region.”

The high-level conference comes less than a month after a series of deadly attacks rattled Kabul, following which a high-level delegation from Afghanistan comprising the interior minister and spy chief had visited Islamabad with a 'personal message' from President Ashraf Ghani.

The delegation held talks with Pakistani leadership on security cooperation amid the highly volatile security situation in their country.

Afghan officials had said that the delegation handed over to Islamabad "undeniable" evidence which claimed that the spate of deadly attacks in Afghanistan were allegedly planned in Pakistan.

Despite Pak-Afghan delegations meeting for talks both in Kabul and Islamabad, little headway has been made on the Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), which is a Pakistani initiative for cooperation in the areas of counterterrorism and reduction of violence, peace and reconciliation, refugees’ repatriation and joint economic development.

There are no takers for this ridiculous assertion anywhere in the world.

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Sriniwas

Feb 13, 2018 06:26pm

The eternal truth !!

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Akram

Feb 13, 2018 06:34pm

@BRK "There are no takers for this ridiculous assertion anywhere in the world."

The world can ignore this "ridiculous assertion" at it's own peril. We no longer care what the world thinks, we are fighting terrorism successfully.

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Haroon

Feb 13, 2018 06:54pm

Excellent speech! Afghans need to listen to Pakistan for their own good. They are our younger brothers. Pakistan Zindabad

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Dipak

Feb 13, 2018 07:06pm

World know who was kasab and from where he came ?

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Sachin

Feb 13, 2018 07:30pm

It is true that there is no high level policy to support or shelter militants. However some ground level captains and officers and soldiers have different policy and sympathies and there is no action against them.

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Anil

Feb 13, 2018 07:40pm

Joke of the year!!

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Siddhartha

Feb 13, 2018 07:46pm

Open your mask and see the real picture.

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Well Meaning

Feb 13, 2018 07:58pm

not many people believe a statement

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pre-Boomer Marine brat

Feb 13, 2018 08:32pm

As Nadeem Paracha has pointed out in his books, after the disaster of Bangladesh's break-away, the standard Pakistani military/governmental mantra became -- There are enemies everywhere, under every bush, and Pakistan is clean and pure as the driven snow.

Musharraf didn't subscribe to all of it, which is part of the reason he's so virulently hated.

Pakistan's bleating newsroom press seems to think that the rest of the planet is deaf and blind. I have news for you. We are not.

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RationalBabu

Feb 13, 2018 08:40pm

Tell me another!

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Sheikh Chilly

Feb 13, 2018 08:41pm

This assertion has been made for many years. Just last night some organizations were banned. So... what is the value of this statement?

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sense

Feb 13, 2018 08:53pm

So much lies..

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Morning Star

Feb 13, 2018 10:14pm

Reading comments here from non-Pakistanis shows that they blame everything on Pakistan. Good luck resolving this Afghanistan issue with this mindset. For so long you have blamed others for your short comings. Pakistan has cleared its house and now its your turn to cleanup. Make the whole neighborhood look good.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Feb 13, 2018 11:43pm

Excellent statement by the great COAS.

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Imtiaz Ali Khani

Feb 14, 2018 03:12am

Love you Pak Armed Forces. Gen Bajwa professional soldier. We truly have been producing great soldier. Gen RS and A. Bajwa.